Parachute ejector



v July 22, 1930. v, STONE 1,770,954

PARACHUTE EJECTOR Filed Aug. 14, 1929 INVENTOR 7Msr M 570/15;

Patented July 22, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ERNEST V. STONE, OI LdNG BEACH, CALIFORNIA PARAGIHUTE macro];

Application filed August 14, 1929. Serial No. 385,901.

This invention relates to a parachute ejector which is particularly adapted to be used upon an airplane, and the prime object of my invention is to provide an ejector which 5 will effectively eject and open a large parachute so as to sustain the airplane before the same has dropped any great distance.

Anotherv objectis to provide a parachute ejector which is forced from its case by the 1 expanding gases from a charge of powder and the case is so arranged that the parachute will not be burned by the hot gases.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims. In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ejector.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the firing tubes.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1, but with the plunger removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my invention relates to an ejector which is mounted on a suitable place on the air-.

plane, preferably upon the upper wing thereof, and in such a position that the parachute will not become entangled as it is being thrown from the ejector. My ejector 1 consists of a cylindrical case 2 in which the parachute is folded. The method of folding and arranging the parachute is well known and forms no part of this invention.

A bafile plate 3 is mounted in the cylinder 2 and is spaced from the bottom thereof by means of suitable brackets or posts 4. The plate 3 is provided with a large number of 40 holes 5 ther'ethrough, so that the gases can pass through the plate and act upon a plunger 6. This plunger is formed of some flexible material such as leather, felt or the like, and normally rests upon the bafile plate 3 as shown in Figure 1. The outer edgesof the plunger 6 are bent downwardly as shown in Figure 1, so that a seal is providedagainst the wall of the cylinder 2 which will prevent the escape of gases around the outer edge of 50 the piston.

the gases are emitted. Thepurpose of the A through notches 24 adj acent the upper end of A rapidly expanding gas is ejected into the chamber 7 below the baflle plate 3 by means of one of the firing tubes 8. A plurality of these tubes are provided in the bottom of the cylinder 2, the-purpose of the plurality of. firing tubes-being that if one fails to function, then one of the others is practically sure to fire. The firing tubes consist of a barrel 9 which screws into the bottom of the cylinder 2. The upper portion 10 thereof projects into the chamber 7. The part 10 is perforated as shown at 11, and a cap 12 screws in to the top of the barrel and is also provided'with ducts 13 through which cap 12 is to permit the firing tube to be cleaned when necessary.

A cartridge chamber 14 is provided in the firing tube below the perforated section 10, and the cartridge 15 is fired by means of a spring actuating pin16, which pin is mounted in the following manner: A plug 17 fits into a bore 18 in the bottom of the tube 8 and the plug is held securely in position by means 0 a nut 19 which screws on to. the bottom of the tube 8, and shoulders against the plug 17 This plug is preferably formed in two parts, which are screwed one into the other. The purpose of this arrangement being to provide an easy method of assembly.

A spring 20 in the plug bears against the pm 16 to force said pin upwardly against the cartridge 15 when it is desired to explode said cartridge. The pin 16' is held in a retracted position by means of a dowel pin which enters a transverse hole 21 in the bottom of the plug 17 and also fits into an annular recess 22 in the lower end of the pin 16.

When the dowel pin is jerked out, the pin 16 is released and is driven upwardly by the spring 20 to explode the cartridge 15. The expanding gases escape through the holes 10 into the chamber 7 and then press upwardly upon the movable plunger 6, which plunger then ejects the parachute.

A plurality of ro e retaining chambers 23 are provided aroun cylinder 2 and the ropes in the parachute extend into the chambers 23 'thecylinder 2. A cover 25 extends over the cylinder to anal 'der and spa'cedform a chamber', sai'd b'afi therethrough, a flex'ible piston fitting into' the cylinder and-resting'onthe'bafile-plate,the"

top'of the cylinder 2 and over the rope chambers 23 and this cover is held lightly in position. Its only function being to prevent moisture from accumulating in the cylinder.

An enlarged slot 26 is provided adjacent the upper end of the cylinder 2 and the large rope which holds the parachute to the airplane extends through this slot when theparachute is in position in the ejector.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A parachute ejector comprising a cylinder adapted to be secured to an airplane or'the like, a bafile plate adjacent the lowercnd of the cylinder, a flexible piston resting against said baffle plate and gas'releasing means projected into the cylinder below said whereby the piston is forcibl. ejecte the cylinder to eject the panic ute resting on said piston. j j

2. A parachute ejector comprising a cylinder adapted to besecured to an airplane or the like, a bafile plate adjacent the lower end of the cylinder, a flexible piston resting against said baffie plate, a plurality of firing tubes extending into said'c'ylinder below said piston, a pow er cartridge in each of said tubes and means to fire said cartridge.

3. A parachute ejector comprising a cylinder adapted to besecured'to an airplane or the like, a baflle'platejadj acent the lower end of .the cylinder, a yfle'xible piston resting against said bafiieplate, a plurality of firin tubes extendin into said cylinder below sai piston, cartri ges in each of said tubes, a spring actuating firing pin in each of said firing tubes and a dowel pin extending through the tube and engaging the firing pin whereby said firing pin is held in retracted position.

4/ A parachute ejector comprising a parachute retaining cylinder, means to secure said cylinder to an airplane-orthe like, a plurality of rope retaining chambers around said cylinder, a baflie plate mounted in said cylinder and spaced from the bottom thereofto form a chamber, said bafile plate having holes therethrough, a flexible piston fitting into the cylin'de'r and resting'on the baffle plate, the parachute being adapted to rest on the piston, a plurality of firing tubes extending into said iston, from into the chamber, a spring actuating firing pin in each of the tubes and a dowel pin extending through each of the tubes and engagingthe firing pin to hold said firing pin in retracted position.

In testimony whereof, I alfix my signature.

ERNEST V. STONE.

chamber, a powder cartridge in each of the tubes and means 'to fire said cartridge.

5. A parachute-ejector comprising a parachute retaining cylinder, means to secur'esaid lane or the like, a plurality of 'rope retaimngchambers around said late mounted in said 'cylin-' cylinder, a'baflie om'the bottom thereof to e plate having holes parachute being adaptedto rest on the piston,

tubes,'an upper perforated sectionf'projectin'g 

